Wazzup Pilipinas!
Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Eric “The Natural” Kelly has been competing as a featherweight since he started his prizefighting stint eight years ago in the flourishing Philippine combat scene.
After spending most of his career as a featherweight with 15 professional bouts, Kelly decided to venture into a new territory as he moves up in another weight class.
The 35-year-old native of Baguio City, Benguet makes his lightweight debut against Japanese MMA legend Kotetsu “No Face” Boku on the undercard of ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS, which takes place at the glamorous Cotai Arena of The Venetian Macao in Macao, China.
Kelly sees his jump to ONE Championship’s 77.1-kilogram weight class as a new chapter in his illustrious run as a world-class MMA athlete.
“It’s a new beginning for me. It’s somehow a permanent move since this is my walking weight. We have to abide by the weigh-in rules of the company. I am comfortable with the weight,” he said.
“I am excited to be in this new journey. I hope everything will turn our great for me as a lightweight,” Kelly added.
Although Kelly’s last two outings as a featherweight competitor resulted to throbbing setbacks inside the ONE Championship cage, he looks to erase the painful memory by picking up a statement-making victory over Boku in his maiden assignment as a lightweight.
“It's been a year since the last time that I fought. I am looking forward to put on a great performance for my beloved country. I have been training hard and going through strategies. I hope to give my 110 percent inside the ONE Championship cage in Macao. I am coming to win,” he stated.



Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.